The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki

Dir: Juho Kuosmanen

Finland / Germany / Sweden

2016

93 mins

12A

Un Certain Regard winner at Cannes and Finland’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film, director and screenwriter Juho Kuosmanen’s irresistible sports biopic is inspired by the real-life showdown between Finnish boxer Olli Mäki and American champion Davey Moore in 1962 Helsinki.

Shot in black and white with scrupulous period detail, it depicts Olli as a wistful, vulnerable small-town boy, whose innocence is at odds with the hyperbolic showmanship of his bombastic manager Elis (Eero Milonoff). All he has to do is lose weight to qualify and concentrate on his training, but there’s just one problem: he’s falling in love.

Full of trenchant commentary about the sports and media industries and their symbiotic relationship, which tends to pressurise and corrupt competitors, the film is also a charming and comedic depiction of Finland’s excitement about its appearance on the world stage and a startlingly sweet romance.

Booking Information

Distributor

MUBI

Telephone:
0740 266 1662

Email:
chiara@mubi.com

Release Date

21 April 2017

Subscribe to our mailing list

What would you like to receive emails about? *
* indicates required